Art work and frame



June 12, 1962 .1. E. coLsToN 3,038,272

ART WORK AND FRAME Filed April l0, 1958 ive-gs.:

United States Patent 3,038,272 ART WORK AND FRAME John E. Colston, Hollis, N.Y. (91--41 195th St., Jamaica 23, N.Y.) Filed Apr. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 727,645 6 Claims. (Cr. 41-10) This invention relates to decorative articles and more particularly to a decorative article and frame which can be hung or otherwise fastened to a supporting surface.

An object of the invention is to provide a unique and very pleasing decorative article constructed of a special frame 'and threads, cord, wires or the like woven in the frame to provide regular or irregular appearances 'achieved by the comparative location and appearance of the woven thread-like material on the frame.

The invention embodies a perimetric frame that has sides formed with transverse notches that open through one surface of each of the sides or at least two of the sides, together with Ia laterally opening slot. The notches have inclined bottom edges against which the thread-like material is adapted to seat and the thread-like material then passed into and through a part of the slot before entering the next adjacent or any other of the slots depending on lthe pattern which is sought. By having a woven pattern on the frame with parts of some of the threads overlying each other a mesh is formed. However the mesh is irregular in that some of the voids are larger than others and are of different shapes. The illusion -created is one of a very pleasing appearance.

The invention will be practiced by and large to provide one focal pattern for each fname, however this may be varied in accordance with the desires of the manufacturer.

The invention also 'embodies improvements in the frame construction centering about the notches, their configuration and the slot. Although unnecessary, it is prererreu that there be a light reflective backing behind the woven pattern and that the ent-ire frame have a cover thereon to conceal the notches and slot in the finished work.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently iappa-rent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described vand claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numetals refer to like parts throughout, land in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a typical decorative article constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is ya transverse sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a yfragmentary elevational view of one corner of the article in FIGURE l, this corner having the outer covering removed.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification which includes a transparent panel over the front of the article.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a decorative article exemplifying the principles of the invention. This article includes a frame 12 that has three sides 14, 16 and 1S joined at their ends and thereby forming la triangular frame. This is only one of a wide variety of geometrical shapes that may be adopted the contiguration for the frame. lIn each case however, the frame will possess certain features that `are constant. These include a group of preferably regularly spaced, upwardly opening notches 20 that are formed inthe sides. Sides 14 and 16 have co-planar upper surfaces `at right angles to the outer side walls 22 'and 24. T-he inner side walls 26 and 28 are angled inwardly `and downwardly .to have a fini-shed appearance for the `article inasmuch yas these surfaces are visible in the completed article.

The lower walls or surfaces 30 of each notch are angled downwardly `and outwardly when Viewed from ya cross sec- 2; tional cut and considering the notches as running from the inner surface 26 to the outer surface 22 of the sides. An elongate slot 34 is in the side 14 at the lower end of the notches 20. Slot 34 communicates with all of the notches in side 14 and is a connecting channel for them.

Backing 36 which may be composition board, a mirror, natural wood or any other suitable material, is adhered to the back surfaces of the sides or simply held in place Iby an outer covering 38. The outer covering is shown in the drawings as being made of lightweight, thin gauge metal with a side wall `40, an upper wall 42 and a lower wall 44. The upper wall 42 extends across the top surface of each of lthe sides of the frame while the lower wall 44 extends inwardly toward the center of the article only a suicient distance to provide a firm grip on the outer surface of the panel which forrns backing 36. The covering 38 and backing 36 are optional although they contribute immensely to the finished appearance of the article.

A webbing 46 constructed entirely of elongate thin material, for example yarn, thread, cord, wire, or any other correspondingly similar substance, is woven onto the frame 12. This may be done by machine or by hand. In either case, the webbing material, henceforth termed las thread 50 for simplicity, is star-ted by extending through one of the notches 20, resting against the bottom surface or wall 30 of that notch. A knot can be formed in the end of the thread, it may be stapled or glued down or yleft `free to be clamped Iby covering 38. -In either event the end of thread 50 is `anchor-ed yand passed from the outside of frame 12 across the top surface of `one of the sides and in the notch 20. The width of the notch is such as to snugly accommodate the thread and the depth of the notch is amply large to accommodate one or more threads without having them protrude beyond the upper surface of the `side Iof the frame. Then depending on the pattern lthat is desired, lthe thread is extended across the space enclosed by the frame to -a notch in -another or possibly in some cases the same side. Upon reaching the next notch, the thread is passed through the notch in the saine way that is, by merely extending through a second selected notch 20. However this time the thread is turned and seated in the slot 34 and then pulled through a third notch. This means that the thread assumes a U-shape in the frame side and is ready to eX- tend across the space enclosed by the fname toa notch on another of the sides of the frame. In many instances the thread forms a cross-over with other parts of the thread and in many instances notches 20 will accommodate two or more threads.

The webbing 46 has its threads crossed over to form double thicknesses of threads in three tareas. Three areas have single thicknesses of threads while one area is left open, exposing the preferably reflective surface 54 of the panel forming backing 36. All of the areas that are shaded by the threads have the voids between the threads of dierent shapes and sizes. 'Ilhe result is a pleasing shadow appearance which is probably best described as having two approximately or generally parabolic edges 56 and 58, and one arcuate edge 60. The shaded areas formed by the double overlap are triangular', as are the shaded areas formed by single thicknesses of webbing threads, but al1 of the sides of these triangular areas are curved.

One of the many possible modiications is shown in FIGURE 4. A transparent panel 64, tinted or clear, is applied on the front surfaces of the frame sides Aand directly against the surfaces of many of the threads. This is to obviate ydistortion when viewed. Although all of the threads cannot touch panel 64, because some are under others, the notches 20 are made the correct depth so .that the top surfaces thereof are ush with the top surfaces of sides 14, 16, 18. Those notches which have two or more threads are deeper than the single thread notches.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. For instance, the article can be used in any reasonable capacity such as a Wall ornament, in or las a table top or tray or a room divider. Moreover, the thread of the patterns in the lframe can be of any color with `a very pleasant effect achieved by coloring shades because of the varying thread density in the pattern. Further, since numerous modifications land changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction `and operation shown yand described, and accordingly all suitable modifications `and equivalents may be resonted to, falling Within the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is =as follows:

1. A picture-like decorative article, comprising a perime-tric frame having a front edge, a back edge yand inner yand outer side surfaces, the front edge 'of said frame being provided at perimehrically spaced points with transverse grooves open yat the inner and outer side surfaces of the frame, Ithe cuter surf-ace of the frame being provided with a perimetrically extending slot in communication with outer ends of said grooves, Iand a thread-like element having lengths thereof criss-crossing said fname in substantially coplanar relation with the front edge thereof, portions of said element between the criss-crossing lengths extending through and being anchored in said grooves and passing from one groove to Ianother through said slot.

2. The device Ias defined in claim 1 wherein said portions of said element extending through said grooves ,and through said slot are flush with the front edge and the outer side surface respectively of said fname, Iand a perimetric frame cover mounted on said frame, said cover having a front member overlyingly concealing the front edge of the frame and a side member overlyingly concealing the outer side surf-ace of the frame.

3. The device as defined in claim l together with a back panel secured to the back edge of said frame and disposed in rearwardly spaced relation from the criss-crossing lengths of said thread-like element.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a back panel secured to the back edge of said frame and disposed in rearwardly spaced relation from the criss-crossing lengths of said thread-like element, and a perimetric frame cover mounted on said frame, said cover having a front member overlyingly concealing the front edge of the frame, a side member overlyingly concealing the outer side surface of the frame, and a back member overlapping the marginal edge portion of said back panel.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said grooves are sloped in a rearward direction from the inner to the outer side surfaces of said frame whereby the outer ends of the grooves are deeper than the inner ends thereof.

6. The dev-ice `as defined in claim 1 together with a back panel secured to the back edge of said frame and disposed in rearwardly spaced relation from the criss-crossed lengths of said thread-like element, the inner side surface of the frame being inwardly bevelled whereby the frame is of a greater transverse dimension at the front edge than at the back edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,632 Murfey Sept. 7, 1869 2,001,192 Gonzalez May 14, 1935 2,111,448 Hoffman Mar. 15, 1938 2,757,459 Walker Aug. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 477,852l France Nov. 12, 1915 

